 | Joyce A. Thompson is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT). She owns Emotional Journey, LLC, which is a group, private practice made up of both male and females and which is located in Wichita, Kansas. We offer a full range of services including ‘talk’ therapy, sand tray therapy and therapeutic massage which all address the mind/body connection. We specialize in working with individuals (from tot to elderly), couples, families, and groups on a wide variety of issues. We also speak to groups or organizations on a variety of topics and offer chair massage at your business or group event. Emotional Journey, LLC is a member of many organizations, including The Wichita Chamber of Commerce, The Wichita Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Wichita Independent Business Association, and The Better Business Bureau. You may learn more by going to our web site: www.emotionaljourney.org, by telephone at (316) 295-4758, or through email: therapists@emotionaljourney.org. |
Health & Wellness
2010-11-01 13:31:00
The effects of the economic downturn on our health
Question: I hear of so many individuals who are struggling (both physically and emotionally) due to the poor economy, even though their income is in the upper brackets and even though their jobs appear to be secure. Is this in my imagination, or is there something to this?
Answer: Yes, there is a connection, although it may not be apparent. With the economy being as it is, we at Emotional Journey are noticing the impact of the recession upon our clients. If left untreated, stress can cause a whole host of emotional and/or physical problems. More frequently, clients are speaking of concerns related to layoffs, unemployment, and furloughs, loss of retirement and/or life savings, struggling businesses, and financial difficulties. Be aware that when stressed, it affects not only you, but your entire family as well, both physically and emotionally.
As a physical reaction, stress is the human body’s response to a perceived threat. The fight-or-flight response kicks in, activating the various systems in the body, including the brain, heart, lungs, digestive track, senses, and immune system. The nervous system and immune system then communicate and interact, triggering an outpouring of adrenaline and other stress-related hormones. Long-term stress creates feelings of being out-of-control filled with uncertainty and conflict. With no chance to refresh, recuperate, and restore our bodies’ natural balance, our immune systems become over-stimulated or suppressed. Everyday life in a pressure cooker wears down our bodies, adversely affecting our overall health.
No one is immune to stress. Many factors beyond our control such as the economy, genetics, personality, learned patterns, and social interactions influence our susceptibility to it. Stress affects so many different parts of our bodies, from our muscles and tissues to our blood vessels and organs. It speeds up heart rate and respiration, raises blood pressure and body temperature, and can interfere with metabolism, digestion, fertility, and sleep. Research over the past 20 years suggests that stress plays a role in most illnesses, from headaches and stomachaches to anxiety and depression. Stress can contribute to such life-threatening conditions as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and strokes. Stress impairs memory, concentration, and learning. It assails our bodies in more insidious ways as we try to soothe ourselves by overeating, abusing alcohol, smoking, or being ‘couch potatoes’. Symptoms can include upset stomachs, panic attacks, uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure and pains in the chest, neck and back. Chronic stress also impairs the immune system, leaving us more susceptible to colds and flu and worsening the symptoms of autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and lupus. Studies link unrelieved stress with delayed wound healing, gastrointestinal problems and sexual dysfunction. Stress or anxiety in children can show up as stomachaches, headaches and a resistance to attend school when they used to look forward to going. They may become more argumentative, their school work might suffer, and they might tend to daydream more often. Teenagers tend to retreat into their own world and into that of their friends.
An estimated 80 percent of all visits to primary-care physicians are stress-related. Our minds and bodies are unable to separate out the mental, emotional, physical and social/relational aspects of our lives, since they are all interconnected. The emotions that you feel affect your thoughts, and likewise, the thoughts you think affect your emotions. The way you care, or don’t take proper care of your body has a profound effect on your thoughts, emotions and relationships. Likewise, the types and nature of the relationships that you engage in affect your overall physical and emotional health, including your mental clarity and sense of well being. When you create health in one area of your life, the positive effects then spill over into all other areas of your life both physical and emotional.
Oftentimes people struggle with guilt when they avoid a layoff. Feeling they have no right to complain, they tend to stuff their feelings. During tough economic times, some feel that mental health care is a luxury, while in reality, it might be a necessity. When people feel out-of-control, they tend to get into more arguments with others, especially family members. Ironically, the support of family and friends is critical; now is not the time to burn any bridges. If you feel you need to seek mental health care, please do not hesitate to call and make an appointment. I recently saw an insightful quote which read, “Being broke is not the same as being broken, losing money is not the same as being lost, and finding your balance is not something you can do on a balance sheet.” We at Emotional Journey work with all income levels to make therapy affordable for most.
